W3C privacy workgroup issues first draft of Do Not Track standard (ars technica)

Ars technica reports on the availability of W3C's first draft of a Web standard that addresses online privacy. "Mozilla originally introduced the DNT setting in Firefox 4 earlier this year. The feature consists of a simple HTTP header flag that can be toggled through the browser's preference dialog. The flag tells website operators and advertisers that the user wants to opt out of invasive tracking and other similar practices that have become pervasive with the rise of behavioral advertising. Of course, the mechanism just indicates a preference and doesn't actively block tracking activity. The success and efficacy of the DNT header is predicated on voluntary compliance from the Internet advertisers that will have to take steps to implement support for the feature."

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